Fragrance vaporizer, in particular for toilets

ABSTRACT

A fragrance evaporator allows doses of fragrance to be released into the atmosphere in a controllable manner and only when required. The fragrance evaporator has a solid surface that may be wetted as required with liquid fragrance from a fragrance reservoir. An evaporation space that surrounds the solid surface and that is in communication with the atmosphere is thus created above the surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a fragrance vaporizer, in particular fortoilets having a liquid aromatic compound to be distributed within theair in a room.

In order to avoid or suppress unpleasant odors, for example in toiletfacilities of restaurants, other public buildings, or even in buildingsfor private use, spraying agents have previously often been used. Thesenebulize a liquid aromatic compound in fine droplets in the air in theroom. Some of these droplets vaporize almost completely and are thuslocated in the air in the room, which thus has the fragrance of thisaromatic compound.

Usually, however, the sprayed aromatic compound does not vaporizecompletely. Some of the nebulized droplets settle on the floor, thewalls, on fittings and on the clothing of people present in the room.This leads to unpleasant side effects. For instance, the floor maypossibly become slippery, or clothing and shoes are attacked by thesometimes aggressive aromatic compounds, for example of ethereal oils.Because of this, the floor in public toilet facilities has to be wipedregularly at intervals of about 2 hours.

Furthermore, so-called odor blocks to avoid unpleasant odors have beendisclosed. Odor blocks of this type have the disadvantage that theyconstantly give off their scent to the surrounding air in the room. Thisleads to waste of the aromatic compound since this is given off into theair in the room even when it is not necessary to combat a foreign odor,for example when the toilet is not being used. In the case of odorblocks, this deficiency also cannot be readily eliminated since it isnot possible to regulate the dispensing of the aromatic compound in odorblocks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is therefore to propose a fragrancevaporizer in which the aromatic compound can be regulated and can be fedto the air in the room only when required and in a meterable quantity.

Starting from a fragrance vaporizer of the type mentioned in theintroduction, this object is achieved by a fixed surface which extendspartially into a liquid aromatic compound and serves as a wettablesurface and a vaporization chamber which surrounds the fixed surfacewherein ambient air moves past the fixed surface and communicates withair in a room.

Advantageous designs and further developments of the invention arepossible by means of the measures mentioned in the followingdescription.

Accordingly, a fragrance vaporizer according to the invention has afixed surface which can be wetted, when required, with a liquid aromaticcompound from an aromatic-compound reservoir. In this case, avaporization chamber which surrounds the fixed surface communicates withthe air in the room.

Increased vaporization takes place due to the distribution of the liquidaromatic compound on the fixed surface. Since the vaporization chambersurrounding the fixed surface communicates with the air in the room, thedesired fragrance effect can thus be brought about by introducing airenriched with aromatic compound from the vaporization space of thefragrance vaporizer into the room exposed to the odour. The fixedsurface is only wetted with liquid aromatic compound when required, sothat no unnecessary aromatic compound is distributed into the air in theroom. The floor, walls, fittings or even clothing of a person present inthe room are not wetted by aromatic compound. Since an aromatic-compoundreservoir is provided, a sufficient quantity of aromatic compound isalso available over a prolonged period.

The surface is advantageously arranged to be movable so that it can beimmersed at least partially into an aromatic-compound bath for wettingwith aromatic compound, and that the surface wetted by immersion can bemoved after immersion out of the aromatic-compound bath into thevaporization chamber.

In this way, at least the immersed part of the surface is completelywetted with the aromatic compound.

Any remaining residue of aromatic -compound on the surface prior toimmersion does not cause any harm in this case, but is fed back to thearomatic-compound reservoir during immersion. After moving the wettedsurface into the vaporization chamber, the vaporization of the aromaticcompound can then take place.

A stack of discs is advantageously provided, in which there is an opengap between the individual discs, the surface of the discs forming thesurface to be wetted for the liquid aromatic compound. Such a lamellararrangement of discs in a stack results in a very large wetted surfacewhen the stack of discs is immersed in the aromatic-compound bath with acomparatively small outside dimension. Owing to this large surface,increased vaporization of aromatic compound occurs as soon as the wettedpart of the stack of discs is introduced into the vaporization chamber.

In a preferred embodiment, the stack of discs is configured to becylindrical and rotatable. A stack of discs designed in this way lieswith its axis of rotation parallel to the liquid surface of thearomatic-compound bath, so that part of the surface of the stack ofdiscs is constantly located in the aromatic-compound bath, whileanother, wetted part of the surface of the stack of discs constantlypasses through the vaporization chamber during the rotational movement.As a result, a continuous and complete wetting of the surface of thestack of discs is reliably guaranteed.

An impeller is preferably provided as a fan to ventilate thevaporization chamber. By means of the fan and the conduction, thuscaused, of the air enriched with aromatic compound out of the fragrancevaporizer and the constant flow of fresh air over the wetted surface inthe vaporization chamber, an intensification of the vaporizationoperation is achieved. The vaporization chamber and its correspondingopenings can thus be designed to be of a relatively compact size, thushaving a positive effect on the overall construction size of thefragrance vaporizer.

It is recommended to provide the same motor for driving the stack ofdiscs and the fan, since this will save the cost of a second drive motorfor the stack of discs or for the fan.

A fragrance vaporizer according to the invention is advantageously notused in continuous operation. In contrast, it is recommended to providea control for the fragrance vaporizer, which control permitsintermittent operation, i.e. a mode of operation with interim stoppage.As a result, the saving effect which is possible in respect of thequantity of aromatic compound required compared to a fragrance vaporizerwith continuous vaporization is fully utilized. In addition, theelectricity consumption is also reduced as a result, so that, in thecase of battery or accumulator operation, the electricity supply ismaintained over a prolonged period without exchanging the battery orrecharging an accumulator.

In an advantageous design of the invention, a control is provided inwhich the operating times of the vaporizer can be controlled by a widevariety of sensors and/or by one or more time intervals. Possiblesensors in this case are the door switch of the entrance door to theroom, the light switch of the room or a light sensor operatingindependently thereof, a sensor which reacts to the water flushing, forexample a pressure switch in a toilet, or a sensor which registers theremoval of toilet paper. In particular, the use of an odor sensor is ofgreat advantage. As a result, the operating time of the fragrancevaporizer can be optimized in terms of a good result in regenerating theair in the room. Other sensors which may possibly comprise simpleswitches can also be used as a control of a fragrance vaporizeraccording to the invention.

Various modes of operation are possible with the aid of time intervals.For instance, using an after-running control in which the device isswitched on manually by a button, the fragrance vaporizer can continuerunning for a specific time, for example between 30 and 150 secondsafter each switching-on operation, and can then switch offautomatically.

Depending on the field of use, the device can also be controlled tointermittent operation between a specific period of running time and aspecific pause time. As an example, a switch setting in which therunning time is 45 seconds and the pause time is 25 minutes would beconceivable. In such a mode of operation, the air in the room isfreshened at regular intervals following the pause times. In this case,the running time and the pause time depend on the size of the room andthe intensity of the odor pollution.

The control can also be switchable between different modes of operation.Thus, for example, a control may be provided with a mode of operationwith the abovementioned intervals of 45 seconds running time and 25minutes pause time and with a further mode of operation of, for example,120 seconds running time and 25 minutes pause time. The modes ofoperation can run for a specific predetermined time or even runcontinuously automatically until either the mode of operation is changedor the control is moved into a switch setting in which the fragrancevaporizer is stopped.

The intermittent mode of operation with intervals can be combined withan after-running control so that, after the fragrance vaporizer has beenswitched on manually, the control is in an intermittent state ofoperation for a specific period. It can also be coupled to a sensor, sothat the switching-on and switching-off are controlled with the aid ofthe sensor signals, and the intermittent mode of operation runs betweenthese points in time.

In the simplest embodiment, it is also possible for the fragrancevaporizer according to the invention to be actuable in a purely manualmanner.

A fragrance vaporizer according to the invention is preferably providedwith at least one exchangeable cartridge for the aromatic-compound bath.Various scents can thus easily be used with a fragrance vaporizer forair regeneration. The scents can thus be exchanged in a simple and cleanmanner, as a result of which a fragrance vaporizer according to theinvention can also be used, for example, for use in so-calledaromatherapy.

The exchangeable cartridge for the aromatic-compound bath is preferablydesigned to be exchangeable as a complete unit together with the stackof discs, which is wetted with the aromatic compound of the respectivescent, and is provided with a lid. Consequently, mixing of aromaticcompound of different scents is virtually completely ruled out. Aromaticcompounds of different scents do not come into contact with one anotherthrough the exchange of the exchangeable cartridge. By closing theexchangeable cartridge with a tightly closing cap, such an exchangeablecartridge can be transported without difficulty or can also be storedover a prolonged period. During storage over a prolonged period, therewould otherwise be the risk of an open exchangeable cartridge drying outor, if the aromatic compound is introduced into a liquid carrier medium,the risk of "scent off-loading", i.e. the loss of the aromatic compoundwithin the carrier medium.

In further embodiments of the invention, two or more stacks of discs areused. As a result, virtually any outside dimensions of a fragrancevaporizer according to the invention can be realized without detractingfrom its efficiency.

In the case of the drive of rollers, shafts or the like, in particularalso in the case of the drive of a stack of discs of a vaporizeraccording to the invention, which rotate within a liquid, problems occurover and again due to the transmission becoming contaminated by thecorresponding liquid.

This is disadvantageous, in particular, when the liquids concerned areaggressive. In the case of a present fragrance vaporizer, such liquidsare present, for example, in the form of ethereal oils. However, this isalso a general problem, for example, in the chemical sector, whereaggressive liquids, in particular acids -and alkalis, are frequentlyhandled.

Comprehensive sealing measures of the transmission unit do not alwayslead to the desired success. The only possible solution often remainingis to produce all the transmission components from materials which areresistant to the aggressive liquids used.

In general, this involves increased cost expenditure, in which case theproblem still remains that the transmission unit is contaminated by therespective liquid used.

In particular when changing the liquid, i.e. in the case of a presentfragrance vaporizer when changing the aromatic-compound bath,undesirable mixing of liquids may occur. In this case, undesirablechemical reactions may even occur, specifically in chemical productionplants, if the transmission is not cleaned with the utmost care.

In a fragrance vaporizer according to the invention, it is thereforerecommended, and also generally in any field of application in which anobject, such as a roller, shaft or the like, in a present fragrancevaporizer, for example, the stack of discs, rotates in an aggressiveliquid, to provide a drive which comprises at least one lever and onegearwheel, the gearwheel being connected to the rotating object so as tobe secure against rotation. Moreover, a device is provided for mountingand guiding the lever for a forward movement of the lever which engagesin the gearwheel and carries it along.

Even if, in this case, the gearwheel is wetted by the liquid due to therotational movement in the said liquid, the only point of contact withthe other transmission components is in that part of the lever whichengages in the gearwheel. This part of the lever, however, is generallyeasy to clean. Moreover, the movement of the lever can be guided andcontrolled in such a way that, for the case of it actually coming intocontact with the liquid, these residues of liquid drain away in thedirection of the lever tip and consequently in fact only an extreme endof the lever is wetted by the liquid.

For this purpose, the lever is preferably oriented and configured insuch a way that it engages in the gearwheel with its tip pointingtowards the gearwheel and that the said tip is aligned downwards in anyposition of the lever.

The device for mounting and guiding the lever is advantageously set upin such a way that it permits a reverse movement which takes placebetween two forward movements of the lever and during which the lever isno longer in engagement with the gearwheel and does not touch thelatter.

Consequently, the lever can drive the gearwheel continuously in onedirection of rotation. In addition, a pawl drive can, inter alia, bedispensed with as a result, which drive, in the manner of a ratchet,slides during the reverse movement with its pawl over the teeth of thegearwheel, the pawl engaging in the gearwheel during the forwardmovement. In this case, on the one hand a movable component which isrequired additionally for a pawl drive is dispensed with and, on theother hand, the development of noise of a pawl drive which is actuallyvery annoying in living rooms is avoided completely.

The device for mounting and guiding the lever preferably comprises slidesurfaces which are mounted on the lever itself and a fastener with guidesurfaces. As a result, the lever can, apart from a pivoting movement,also carry out a translatory movement which is superimposed on thepivoting movement. By means of the superimposition of a rotational and atranslatory movement, it is possible to actuate the tip in such a waythat it engages in the gearwheel during the forward movement and isdisconnected therefrom during the reverse movement.

The lever is advantageously connected at one end in an eccentricallyarticulated manner to a rotating drive shaft. By means of such aneccentrically articulated connection to a rotating shaft, the lever issimultaneously set in a pivoting and translatory movement, whichmovements are superimposed on one another. In conjunction with the slideand guide surfaces, in this case virtually any desired cyclicalmovement, for example an elliptical movement, of the lever tip can bebrought about. For this purpose, the shapes of the slide and guidesurfaces and the eccentricity of the lever drive must be matched withone another.

In a drive according to the invention, two levers are preferablyprovided, which engage alternately in the gearwheel. There is thusconstantly one lever in engagement with the gearwheel, so that thelatter is not only driven, but is also locked against any undesirablefurther movement, for example against the rotating object turning backafter a lever tip has been pivoted out of the gearwheel. The rotation ofthe rotating object is thus constantly monitored and controlledmechanically securely by the lever drive.

The two levers are preferably eccentrically linked to the same driveshaft offset at 180°. If both levers have slide surfaces of the sameshape and slide in corresponding guide surfaces, they correspondinglyexecute identical forward and reverse movements which are carried outtemporally offset relative to one another by half a cycle length.

In a preferred embodiment, the drive shaft for the eccentric drive ofthe lever is fitted with a worm wheel in which a worm engages. As aresult, on the one hand extreme transmission ratios are possible, whichis necessary, in particular when used in a fragrance vaporizer accordingto the invention, where a motor is used for the fan and for the rotationof the stack of discs. On the other hand, a worm wheel drive constitutesa so-called self-inhibiting transmission, which results, in conjunctionwith the two-lever system in which one lever is constantly in engagementwith the gearwheel of the rotating object, in locking of the rotatingobject, for example a stack of discs, when the drive is switched off.

The worm is preferably connected via an elastic coupling to the driveshaft of a motor. As a result, the drive shaft does not need to becompletely precisely in alignment with the shaft of the worm. Relativelylarge tolerances in the production of a drive according to the inventionare possible in this case, which, inter alia, results in saving costs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in greater detailwith reference to the following description and illustrated in thedrawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic cross-section through a fragrance vaporizeraccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a cross-section according to FIG. 1 while an exchangeablecartridge is being removed;

FIG. 3 shows a diagrammatic cross-section through an exchangeablecartridge with a closing cap fitted on;

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a diagrammatic cross-section through a drive systemaccording to the invention in various lever positions;

FIG. 6 shows a diagrammatic vertical cross-section through a part of thedrive device; and

FIG. 7 shows a diagrammatic illustration of a fragrance vaporizer withtwo stacks of discs and a double drive.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The fragrance vaporizer 1 according to FIG. 1 has a housing 2 with anopening flap 3. Illustrated inside the housing 2 is a stack of discs 4consisting of circular discs arranged one behind the other in a lamellarmanner. In the illustration shown, in this case only the front disc isvisible. A gear or gearwheel 6 is firmly connected to the spindle 5 ofthe stack of discs 4. A lever 7 engages with its lever tip 8 in thegearwheel 6. The rear end of the lever 7 is hidden in a transmissionhousing 9. Passing through the transmission housing 9 is a transmissiondrive shaft 10 which is connected via an elastic coupling 11 to a motordrive shaft 12 of an electric motor 13. An impeller 14 is fitted as afan on the motor drive shaft 12.

The stack of discs 4 is mounted so as to be rotatable with its spindle 5in the end faces (not illustrated) of an aromatic-compound trough 15.The aromatic-compound trough 15 stands in a displaceable drawer fastener16 to which the opening flap 3 is also attached pivotably at its axis ofrotation 17 (not illustrated in detail).

FIG. 3 illustrates a complete exchangeable cartridge 18 for thearomatic-compound bath. It comprises the aromatic-compound trough 15with the stack of discs 4 mounted therein and a cartridge cap 19 whichis attached on the aromatic-compound trough 15 by means of closure clips20.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show an enlarged illustration of a lever drive accordingto the invention. In this case, a front lever 7 is illustrated by solidlines, while a second lever 7' located behind the lever 7 is marked bydotted lines.

A worm wheel 21 which meshes with a worm 22 is shown by dashed lines.The worm wheel 21 is connected securely against rotation to an eccentricdrive shaft 23, or is recessed into the latter, which is not illustratedin detail in FIGS. 4 and 5 but can be seen from FIG. 6. Seated on theeccentric drive shaft 23 are two eccentrics 24, 24' which are configuredas annular shoulders and whose mid-axes R, R' are offset relative to themid-axis M of the eccentric drive shaft 23, thus resulting ineccentricity. The eccentrics 24, 24' pass through two correspondingbores in the respective lever 7, 7'. Each lever 7 or 7' is provided ineach case with an upper 25 and a lower 26 slide surface. These slidesurfaces lie on upper 27 and lower 28 guide surfaces which are recessedinto the transmission housing 9.

FIG. 6 shows the worm 22 which is connected securely against rotation tothe transmission drive shaft 10 or is recessed into the latter. Theelastic coupling 11 is connected to the motor drive shaft 12 via a bush29 of the impeller 14. Moreover, the lamellar arrangement of theindividual discs 4' of the stack of discs 4 can be seen here.

During operation of the fragrance vaporizer 1 according to theinvention, there is a liquid aromatic compound in the aromatic-compoundtrough 15, as illustrated by the line F as the liquid level. A stack ofdiscs 4 lies partly within the aromatic compound. The said stack ofdiscs is mounted via its spindle 5 so as to be rotatable in thearomatic-compound trough 15. It is set in a rotational movement via thelevers 7, 7' and the gearwheel 6. In this case, the surface of the stackof discs 4 wetted with aromatic compound comes into contact with the airin the vaporization chamber 30 so that the aromatic compound vaporizesfrom the surface into the air in the vaporization chamber 30.

By means of the impeller 14, air is sucked in via an opening (notillustrated in detail) in the housing 2 of the fragrance vaporizer 1 andis blown over the stack of discs 4. This results in an intensifiedvaporization of aromatic compound. The air enriched with aromaticcompound in the vaporization chamber 30 subsequently escapes throughcorresponding ventilation openings, as are indicated diagrammatically bythe ventilation slots 31. In this case, a screen 32 additionallydeflects the air flow in the direction of the stack of discs.

If the aromatic compound is to be changed, the flap 3 can be foldeddown, as illustrated in FIG. 2, and the aromatic-compound trough 15 canbe pulled out on the drawer fastener 16. In this case, the stack ofdiscs 4 remains mounted in the aromatic-compound trough 15. Theexchangeable cartridge 18 which comprises the aromatic-compound trough15 together with its stack of discs 4, can subsequently be removed fromthe drawer fastener 16 and closed with a cartridge cap 19. Thisexchangeable cartridge 18 is thus ready for prolonged storage or fortransportation. Another exchangeable cartridge of identical design oreven the same exchangeable cartridge 18 can subsequently be insertedinto the fragrance vaporizer 1 again in the reversed order.

The stack of discs 4 is driven by the gearwheel 6 and the levers 7, 7'.The levers 7, 7' are driven with the aid of the electric motor 13 whichalso drives the impeller 14. This takes place via the bush 29 of theimpeller 14 and the elastic coupling 11, as a result of which thetransmission drive shaft 10 is driven.

As a result, the worm 22 and thus also the eccentric drive shaft 23rotate in the direction of the arrow P₁. In this case, the eccentrics 24execute a circular movement. By means of this circular movement, thelevers 7, 7' are set both in a tilting movement about the pivot D, D'and in a translatory movement in the direction of the double arrow T.During these movements, each lever is guided by the upper and lowerguide surface 27, 28 on which it lies with its upper and lower slidesurfaces 25, 26. By means of the special shaping of the guide surfaces27, 28 and of the slide surfaces 25, 26 in conjunction with thedeflection of the mid-axes R, R' of the eccentrics 24, 24' from themid-axis M of the axis of rotation 23, virtually any desired curved pathof the lever tips 8, 8' is possible. In this case, an elliptical curvedpath is of great advantage, so that the lever tips 8, 8' are inengagement with the gearwheel 6 during the forward movement, i.e. duringthe downward movement in the present illustration. During the reversemovement, i.e. in this case during the upward movement, the lever tips8, 8' are then out of engagement with the gearwheel 6 and do not touchits teeth.

The illustrations of FIGS. 4-5 show the levers 7, 7' in differentpositions during the drive operation, in which the stack of discs 4 isrotated in the direction of the arrow P₂. Since the deflection of theeccentrics 24, 24' relative to the mid-axis M of the eccentric driveshaft 23 lies offset relative to one another by 180°, i.e. the mid-axesR, R' of the eccentrics 24, 24' and the mid-axis M of the eccentricdrive shaft 23 lie on a straight line, the movement of the lever 7' iscompleted offset by half a movement cycle relative to the movement ofthe lever 7. As a result, at least one lever tip 8 is in engagement ineach case with the gearwheel 6, so that the latter is not only carriedalong in the direction P₂, but is also locked in any position of thedrive in relation to other movements, for example turning back counterto the direction of rotation of P₂.

The lever tips 8, 8' are directed downwards so that liquid which ispossibly conveyed to the lever tips 8, 8' due to the immersion of thegearwheel 6 in the aromatic compound inside the aromatic-compound trough15 drains off again down to the gearwheel 6. The only locations whichcan thus come into contact with aromatic compound are only the tips ofthe levers 7, 7'. There is thus no risk of the remaining components ofthe drive coming into contact with liquid aromatic compound in any phaseof the operation of the fragrance vaporizer.

The illustrated drive for the stack of discs 4 can also be used outsidea fragrance vaporizer according to the invention. The system illustratedcan readily be applied on any rotating object, even in the designaccording to FIG. 7 described below, in which a drive system accordingto the invention is advantageous. This may be the case, in particular,in chemical production plants where rollers, shafts or the like likewiseoften have to rotate within a liquid bath, and the problem thus likewiseoccurs that the drive must not come into contact, or only at somepoints, with the possibly aggressive liquid.

FIG. 7 illustrates a further embodiment of a fragrance vaporizeraccording to the invention. In this case, two stacks of discs 4, 4' eachwith a gearwheel 6, 6' are disposed parallel to one another. They aredriven by means of a double lever drive 33, 33'. The lever drives 33correspond to the previous simple lever drives described above. They aredriven by means of a common worm 22 and the two worm wheels 21, 21'. Inthe present case, the axis of the worm 22 and thus also of thetransmission drive shaft 10 is arranged vertically, the two lever drives33, 33' being disposed obliquely at an angle α or α' relative to thevertical axis of the transmission drive shaft. Correspondingly, theimpeller 14 and the electric motor are also arranged with a verticallyextending axis.

By using two parallel stacks of discs, the wetted surface is enlargedoverall, only one drive motor and one fan still being necessary asbefore. Owing to the said spatial arrangement of the stacks of discs, acompact construction is possible with high efficiency of a fragrancevaporizer according to the invention.

We claim:
 1. A fragrance vaporizer for toilets comprising:a housing; aliquid aromatic compound to be distributed within ambient air in a room;a rotating stack of discs which extends partially into anaromatic-compound reservoir provided with the liquid aromatic compoundand which serves as a wettable surface; a lever drive for rotating thestack of discs; and a fan for moving the ambient air past the wettedsurface; wherein the aromatic-compound reservoir is a separatearomatic-compound trough which can be removed from the housing and intowhich the stack of discs is inserted.
 2. A fragrance vaporizer accordingto claim 1, wherein an impeller is provided as the fan for ventilationof the vaporization chamber formed in the housing.
 3. A fragrancevaporizer according to claim 2, further comprising a motor for drivingboth the stack of discs and the impeller.
 4. A fragrance vaporizeraccording to claim 1, further comprising a control which permitsintermittent operation of the rotating stack.
 5. A fragrance vaporizeraccording to claim 1, further comprising a control of the drive in whichthe operating time of the fragrance vaporizer can be controlled by oneof sensors and one or more time intervals.
 6. A fragrance vaporizeraccording to claim 1, wherein at least one exchangeable cartridge isprovided for the aromatic-compound bath.
 7. A fragrance vaporizeraccording to claim 1, wherein at least two stacks of discs are provided.8. A fragrance vaporizer according to claim 1, wherein the drive for therotating stack of discs further comprises at least one pivotably mountedlever and a gearwheel, the gearwheel being connected securely againstrotation to the rotating stack of discs, and a device for mounting andguiding the lever being present for a forward movement of the leverwhich engages in the gearwheel and carries it along.
 9. A fragrancevaporizer according to claim 8, wherein the lever engages in thegearwheel with its tip pointing towards the gearwheel, and said tip ofthe lever is aligned downwards in any position of the lever.
 10. Afragrance vaporizer according to claim 8, wherein the device formounting and guiding the lever is set up for a reverse movement whichtakes place between two forward movements of the lever and during whichthe lever is no longer in engagement with the gearwheel and does nottouch the gearwheel during the reverse movement.
 11. A fragrancevaporizer according to claim 8, wherein the device for mounting andguiding the lever comprises slide surfaces on the lever and a fastenerwith guide surfaces.
 12. A fragrance vaporizer according to claim 8,wherein the lever is connected at one end in an articulated manner to aneccentric drive shaft via an eccentric.
 13. A fragrance vaporizeraccording to claim 8, wherein there are two levers.
 14. A fragrancevaporizer according to claim 12, wherein the eccentric drive shaft forthe lever is provided with a worm wheel in which a worm engages.
 15. Afragrance vaporizer according to claim 14, wherein the worm is connectedvia an elastic coupling to a drive shaft of a motor.
 16. An apparatushaving a stack of rotating discs which extend partially into a liquidand which serve as a wettable surface, ambient air being moved past thestack by a ventilator, comprising at least one pivotably mounted leverand a gearwheel, said gearwheel being connected securely againstrotation relative to the stack of discs, and a device for mounting andguiding said lever so that the lever engages said gearwheel and movesthe gearwheel forward.
 17. A drive according to claim 16, wherein saidlever engages the gearwheel with its tip pointing towards the gearwheeland said tip of the lever is aligned downwards in any position of saidlever.
 18. A drive according to claim 16, wherein said device formounting and guiding the lever is set up for a reverse movement whichtakes place between two forward movements of the lever and during whichthe lever is no longer in engagement with the gearwheel and does nottouch the gearwheel during the reverse movement.
 19. A drive accordingto claim 16, wherein said device for mounting and guiding the levercomprises a slide surface on the lever and a fastener with guidesurfaces.
 20. A drive according to claim 16, comprising two levers. 21.A drive according to claim 16, wherein said lever is connected at oneend in an articulated manner to an eccentric drive shaft via aneccentric.
 22. A drive according to claim 21, wherein said eccentricdrive shaft for the lever is provided with a worm wheel in which a wormengages.
 23. A drive according to claim 22, wherein said worm isconnected via an elastic coupling to a drive shaft of a motor.